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A riot broke out on Saturday evening at the Sialang Bungkuk correctional facility in Pekanbaru, Riau, as prisoners protested the decision to transfer 21 of their number to other prisons for being provocateurs during a previous riot at the prison in May.

The riot began when several prisoners blocked the path of officers escorting the inmates being transferred. Some prisoners forcefully pulled the escorted inmates back to their cells.

Rioters then threw rocks and other things at the security officers, including at military personnel and police officers who arrived to help disperse the mob. The officers tried to take control of the situation by firing warning shots and tear gas cannisters.

“After the riot, officers searched for weapons and other dangerous items in every cell,” Pekanbaru Police deputy chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edy Sumardi said, claiming the situation had been put under control as of Sunday morning.